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Federer's finest 5

2008-11-03 11:13:28

Sadly, the curtain has fallen on another exciting ATP regular season.

If you are at all like we are, you felt an annoying, yet familiar ache at the conclusion of the championship match in Paris over the weekend. It wasn't the result, nor the atrocious behaviour of the Parisian crowd throughout the tournament that made us sigh with resignation on Sunday.

The upcoming battle between the elite eight in Shanghai provides us with a small degree of comfort, as does my personal invitation to the Davis Cup in Mar del Plata at the end of November. Truth be told, however, nothing satisfies quite like the tour in full swing.

Finding ourselves in dire need of some consolation until January, all of us at Team DdV are attempting to soothe the pain with a stroll down memory lane alongside our "forever #1," Roger Federer.

2008 proved to be a challenging year for our favourite tennis genius. He began the year hampered by a nasty case of mononucleosis, and ended it sidelined with a painful back injury. In between, he suffered an astonishingly awful defeat at the French Open, lost his beloved Wimbledon crown, and if that weren't enough, surrendered his number one ranking after a record 237 consecutive weeks.

We continued to grow impatient as the year wore on, anxiously awaiting an upturn of the tennis tide. Eventually, some relief came by way of a trifecta of tournament championships, Olympic doubles gold in Beijing, and a title defense in Flushing Meadows, marking a bit of a resurgence for the smarting Swiss.

Erratic results and a somewhat disappointing year aside, please enjoy our picks for Roger Federer's finest five moments on the ATP tour!

5) Roger, red-faced: Easily the funniest moment he's had on tour, and one that still makes us laugh, no matter how many times we see it. Think the always-composed ATP ace doesn't have a sense of humour? Watch this video!

4) Roger, redone: With the help of some designer duds and an iconic cut and style, Federer's eye-popping image transformation went from tragic to trendsetter.

3) Showing his sensitive side: The touching trophy presentation at the 2006 Australian Open includes a cameo appearance made by living legend, Rod Laver. Arguably the best tennis moment we've ever seen.

2) Gone global: Having transcended the ranks of mere tennis player, we knew Federer had truly arrived. An appearance upon GQ Magazine's "Men of the Year" list for 2007 cemented his status as an international celebrity.

1) You never forget your "first": Federer's first Wimbledon title in 2003 kicked off the best and brightest championship run in tennis history. Since then, he has placed a dozen majors inside his trophy case, wo titles shy of breaking the record currently held by Pete Sampras.

With a chance to make tennis history close at hand, we expect a fully fit Federer to return to the tour in 2009, ready to reclaim his spot at the top!

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ATP Mo-jo

2008-10-27 10:43:56

In the world of professional tennis, the chance to bask in the glow of the spotlight is typically reserved for the ATP's most elite. After another standout performance in Basel on finals Sunday, I wanted to give Team DdV's favourite chair umpire an opportunity to shine.

Many capable chair umpires are employed by the ATP, but only one of them reigns supreme. Only one of them commands our utmost respect, possessing the ability to make our collective hearts skip a beat. Held in the highest regard by peers and players alike, and affectionately nicknamed, "Mo," by all who know and love him, Mohamed Lahyani occupies the top spot on our list.

Christened the "voice of the ATP tour," the Moroccan-born Lahyani enjoys a level of deference and devotion normally associated with a tennis superstar, not a chair umpire. World-renowned for his calm on-court demeanour, special style and infectious charm, Mo has deftly crafted his own brand of celebrity after many successful years spent on the ATP tour.

In addition to his unmatched ability as a tennis official, this affable Swedish import, and later, Spanish export, brings his unique blend of entertainment and personality to each and every match he oversees.

During our travels this past summer, Team DdV asked countless tennis fans and tournament goers one question:

What's the secret of Mo's Mo-jo?

The list of compliments we received upon Mo's behalf were endless, as diverse as the collection of people who uttered them. Some tennis fans cited his firm, but impartial and unbiased officiating style, while others praised his complete command of multiple languages, making for effortless communication between chair umpire and player during matches.

Not surprisingly, Mo earned high marks from the female tennis fans as well, many of whom gushed over the superstar umpire's exotic good looks.

More Mo:

Travel plans: born in Morocco, grew up in Uppsala, Sweden

Family man: resides in Spain with his wife and daughter

Tour tenure: the most respected and decorated official in tennis, with over 20 years of service

International itinerary: granted international work and travel in 1991

Rising star: chosen to umpire the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona

Grandslam debut: Wimbledon 1993

Mo goes gold: awarded the highest official's position on the ATP tour in 1997

Noteworthy:
- Called the institution of Hawk-eye "positive"
- Named 2001 Federer vs. Sampras Wimbledon match most significant
- Enjoys traveling
- Very autograph, photograph and fan-friendly
Special Mo blind item: Which uber famous player is responsible for this quote from The Times?

"I have my favourites (umpires). He is Swedish with Moroccan origins".

Having earned the admiration and affection of tennis professionals and fans the world over, Mohamed Lahyani is truly a credit to his craft. Way to go, Mo!

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Survey says: Simon is a star!

2008-10-22 22:50:48

Flashy forehands and blistering backhands are no longer enough to impress an experienced tennis fan. In this current climate of "been there, done that," how does an ATP tour player attract worldwide attention?

Gilles Simon of France answered that important question last week. His plan of attack was simple: deny the number one player on the planet, Rafael Nadal, a Masters Series shield in front of partisan crowd in Madrid. Ambitious mission accomplished!

In an era littered with inflated egos, attitude problems and arrogance, this fantastic Frenchman brings a refreshing change of pace to the ATP. With his impressive wins over both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal this year, as well as a rapid ascent into the upper echelon of men's tennis, Simon has quickly become the talk of the tour.

If you missed any part of his dazzling display last week, no need to despair! The red-hot Simon is set to shine once again this week, taking centre stage at the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in his native France.

Gilles Simon's Superstar Sheet:

Household name: Gilles Simon

Debut: 27th December, 1984 (age 23)

Hometown soil: Nice, France

Party palace: currently resides in Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Body count: 1.80 m (5 ft. 11 in.), 65 kg (140 lb.)

Tour tip-off: turned pro in 2002

Handles his business: plays right-handed, with a two-handed backhand

Trophy case: collected five ATP tour singles titles: Marseille and Bucharest (1st) in 2007, and Casablanca, Indianapolis, and Bucharest (2nd) in 2008

Notable knock-offs: defeated (then) world #1, Roger Federer, at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, and (current) world #1, Rafael Nadal, at the M4 in Madrid

Media darling: dubbed el superviviente ("the survivor") by the Spanish press

Top spot: currently France's highest ranked player and world #10 (20th October, 2008)

Our warmest congratulations go out to Gilles Simon, the most recent addition to the ATP's elite top 10. Team DdV will be excited to see if his inspired play earns him one of the coveted slots at the YEC in Shanghai!

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